NORFOLK, Va. — An Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into a Navy ship during a training exercise, killing one service member and sending eight to the hospital, the Navy said yesterday.

Service members were rappelling from the helicopter to the USNS Arctic at 8 p.m. Thursday off the Virginia coast near Fort Story when the chopper smashed into the ship’s stern and ended up on its side, according to Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander of the Military Sealift Command.

Lt. Cmdr. Phil Rosi said the “routine” training exercise involved two Army helicopters and members of a Naval Special Warfare unit.

A small fire on the ship’s deck was quickly extinguished, and the cause of the crash was being investigated.

Names of the dead and injured and their service affiliations were not immediately released.